Is your outlook on life created by your experiences or by your age?

Question

Hi

Do you think that our mentalities change as we get older or by the good and bad experiences we suffer through life?

I have been thinking about this for a while. We don't think the same every day... do we? Do we care about our needs only? Do we care about helping others? Do we get softer emotionaly or do our needs change as we get older? There are so many questions... but it only comes down to what you feel and think right now this very moment of your life.

What do you guys think?

Take Care!

Answer 1

I think that our mentalities change by the experiences that we suffer through life. Imagine Paris Hilton who is rich and hasn't been through much. She was a party girl and that didn't really change much as she got older. Once the bad experience of the explicit tape was released of her, she changed her ways a little bit. She didn't change completely but she did change and she hadn't changed any before this had happened. That proves that bad experiences change our mentalities.

Of course we don't think about the same thing everyday because we are always learning new things. That gives us something new to think about all the time.

Most people don't care about needs only. Our needs are water, clothing, and food. That is all we really need to survive. I don't know of many people who only have those three things. I wouldsay most people care about wants more than needs.

Some people actually do care about helping others. Some people only care about helping themselves. Some people want other people to think that they are good for helping but they really aren't doing it because they want to.

Our needs never change but some people get softer emotionally as they get older. I believe that it has to do with what they have been through in life. If you haven't been through much you might not get softer emotionally but if you have you might get softer. It also depends on the person. Everyone is different.

I hope this answers your questions.

Answer 2

I think both age and experiance help mold our manner of thinking.

Both positive and negative experiances have an effect on us, even if we don't realize it at the time. We are always learning, even when we are not concious of it. Thus, our thought process is conditioned by what we learn from our experiances. If a person has a lot of bad things happen to them, they will tend to lean towards the negative in their private thoughts, and come to expect the worst.

Age plays a part through maturity. As we grow older, and gain experiance our personalities and thought process matures. We come to accept things that we refused to believe when we were younger, and generally have more tolorance for schools of thought other than our own.
A 4 year old is going to have a harder time understanding why daddy left than a 16 year old would. We develop the ability to weigh our thoughts and options, and become able to take time to think things through, instead of rushing off with the first idea that pops in our heads.

So again I say, I believe that both age and experiance affect the way we think.

Answer 3

Speaking for myself I would have to say both...but more on the experience side. I have had many experiences that have shaped me in the life I have today. Certain things that I've experienced though may not have the same impact on someone else. It also has to do with good and bad and ups and downs. For instance I've had things happen where I could have been bitter & cold about but I chose to rise above it and change it for the better. Other people might stay bitter and cold and let it fester till it eats them up alive...(sort of speak.) I am an out-going type of person...a free spirit. I believe part of me is that way because of how I grew up, the travelling & adventures I've had. You are what you make of things. Most of us grow with change...and change can be a good thing. If the person is not happy with their life today, they can change it. It may not always be easy...but it's also not impossible. "If nothing changes, nothing changes." It's up to the individual

Answer 4

I believe out outlook on life is influenced by both age and our experiences, because with increasing age one accumulates more significant experiences. Bad experiences can turn out to be helpful in some ways, as it teaches you to be strong, and to appreciate those things are that good.

I am 68 and I certainly think differently about many things to when I was 18. I was very selfish at 18 but now I can see that's a bad way to be. I value each day now much more than before, because I have an unavoidable appreciation of my own mortality.

Answer 5

I must say the experiences. Think about it, the reason why age would affect us is because with age, we get more experience, and from that experience, gain wisdom and develop our unique outlooks on life. You can be 60 years old, but if you've but shut up in your house all those 60 years, you wouldn't have gained much experience and your mentality would probably be still the same as the mentality you possessed 40 years ago. You wouldn't be exposed to new ideas, and you'll still think the same way.

Answer 6

Both for sure. I think our mentalities can change daily, and during "experiences" attitudes and mentalities can change very quickly. sometimes I think about it like each person is walking up steps to the ultimate "them" and the outlook that comes fromt than, and some "experiences" can force a person to take steps 2 at a time, or in worse situations, fall down a little. anyway, i think about this too- isnt it neat?

Answer 7

I believe our experiences have absolutely nothing to do with age. I feel like I have alot of knowlege and experiences, and I'm only 22. I think it has alot to do with what you go through, how you're raised.

I learned in psychology class that your personality comes from two things: experience and genetics. So I would imagine that a majority of who you are as a person has alot to do with what you've been through. A person who has been pampered their whole life, for example, may not appreciate things like a person who hasn't been taken care of in that way.

And as far as caring for others, taking care of our own needs--that comes with experience and age. I think, no matter how old you are, you have to see a person's life to understand why they are the way they are.

Good question, though!

Answer 8

Oooooooooooooo what a great Q!!!!

I would say both for sure..... i think your views could change based on experiences.... if you were a thoughtful, loving, fabulous person.... and bad thing after bad thing happened to you, I could see how it may change your outlook on life entirely......

ALSO you could be a very down and depressed teenager, and as you grow with age, you may come to find the things that upset you terribly, aren't so bad after all....

Answer 9

i think of they're one and an identical. daily we grow previous, on an identical time we are experiencing new issues. As each and each new experience unfolds, it shapes our critiques, outlooks, objectives, values. i think of you're incorrect to think of which you're able to easily communicate approximately what you think of and experience suited now. between the main mandatory issues that separate us from the animal realm is the flexibility to think of with regard to the destiny. case in point, i'm particular a lot of persons, myself lined, married too youthful. If I were thinking of my destiny in any respect, i'm going to have found out that i could replace alot for the duration of my youthful 20's and what i wanted them could be very distinctive in some years once I had matured. only an occasion of how slightly forethought could make a super distinction

Answer 10

Nothing defines a man better than his wisdom which by the way, is acquired thru experience. However, the kind of experience we have is shaped by our age. A man's outlook on life is a reflection of his journey through life